Batting Cage Device

ABSTRACT

A batting cage device collects a batted ball and returns the ball to the batter in a position to be batted again. The device includes an enclosed area. A back section of the enclosed area is elevated relative to a front section of the enclosed area. A drain coupled to the rear section of the enclosed area receives and directs a ball through the drain. A chute is positioned adjacent to the enclosed area to receive the ball passing through the drain. The chute is sloped downwardly from an upper end to a lower end. A lofting mechanism is positioned at the lower end of the chute for lofting the ball when the ball exits the lower end of the chute. While lofted in the air the ball may be struck back into the rear section of the enclosed area.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to cage devices and more particularly pertains toa new cage device for collecting a batted ball and returning the ball tothe batter in a position to be batted again.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising an enclosed area. A back section of the enclosedarea is elevated relative to a front section of the enclosed area. Adrain coupled to the rear section of the enclosed area receives anddirects a ball through the drain. A chute is positioned adjacent to theenclosed area to receive the ball passing through the drain. The chuteis sloped downwardly from an upper end to a lower end. A loftingmechanism is positioned at the lower end of the chute for lofting theball when the ball exits the lower end of the chute. While lofted in theair the ball may be struck back into the rear section of the enclosedarea.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a batting cage deviceaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top back side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through6 thereof, a new cage device embodying the principles and concepts of anembodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the referencenumeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the batting cage device 10generally comprises an enclosed area 12 comprising a back section 14 anda front section 16. The back section 14 of the enclosed area 12 iselevated relative to the front section 16 of the enclosed area 12. Thefront section 16 is downwardly sloped extending forwardly from the rearsection 14. A drain 18 is coupled to the rear section 14 of the enclosedarea 12 such that the rear section 14 is configured for receiving anddirecting a ball 20 such that the ball 20 passes through the drain 18 asthe ball 20 is collected in and settles in the rear section 14. A bottomsurface 22 of the rear section 14 of the enclosed area 12 forms a funnel24 towards the drain 18.

A chute 26 is positioned adjacent to the enclosed area 12 such that anupper end 28 of the chute 26 is configured for receiving the ball 20passing through the drain 18.

The chute 26 is sloped downwardly from the upper end 28 to a lower end30 wherein the ball 20 moves from the upper end 28 of the chute 26 tothe lower end 30 of the chute 26.

A lofting mechanism 32 is positioned at the lower end 30 of the chute 26wherein the chute 26 is configured for lofting the ball 20 when the ball20 exits the lower end 30 of the chute 26. Thus, the ball 20 isbattable, using a conventional bat or other similar implement, into therear section 14 of the enclosed area 12 while the ball 20 is in the air.The lofting mechanism 32 comprises netting 34 positioned adjacent to thelower end 30 of the chute 26. The netting 34 is substantially planar andresilient, either by construction or being held in a substantially tightcondition to bounce the ball 20 off of the netting 34 using the velocityof the ball 20 striking the netting 34. The chute 26 is configured todeliver the ball 20 onto the netting 34. The netting 34 is angledrelative to the chute 26 such that the netting 34 is configured forlofting the ball 20 in a substantially vertical direction adjacent tothe enclosed area 12. Indicia 74 may be coupled to the device 10proximate the aperture 40 and aligned with the chute 26.

A lower extension panel 36 is coupled to and extends forwardly from abottom front edge 38 of the enclosed area 12. An aperture 40 extendsthrough the lower extension panel 36. The lofting mechanism 32 isconfigured for lofting the ball 20 through the aperture 40. An upperextension panel 42 is coupled to and extends forwardly from a top frontedge 44 of the enclosed area 12. The upper extension panel 42 extendsover the lower extension panel 36 and is spaced to allow a bat orsimilar implement to pass between the lower extension panel 36 and theupper extension panel 42 to assist in preventing the ball 20 from movingtoo far from the enclosed area 12 on mis-hits of the ball 20. As shownin FIG. 2, a backdrop 70 may also hang down from the upper extensionpanel 42 in spaced relationship to a distal edge 72 of the lowerextension panel 36 relative to the enclosed area 12.

A frame 48 is provided for supporting the enclosed area 12 and the chute26. Each of the enclosed area 12 and the chute 26 is coupled to andsupported by the frame 48. Each of a pair of legs 50 is coupled to theframe 48. The legs 50 are each telescopic and the chute 26 is held orsupported in a static position relative to the frame 48 wherein a slopeof the chute 26 is adjustable by adjustment of a length of the legs 50.The legs 50 may be positioned adjacent to a front 52 of the enclosedarea 12 for accessibility and ease in making adjustments. Staticnon-telescopic legs 54 may be provided and positioned opposite the legs50. The frame 48 may be constructed of tubing, pipes, or the like. Theframe 48 may include a support 66 having an annular section 68 receivingthe chute 26 therethrough wherein the chute 26 maintains alignmentrelative to the frame 48 during use. The frame 48 may further include alateral cable 78 extending between a pair of eye hooks 80. The cable 78is tight and extends across a lower junction 82 between the frontsection 16 and the rear section 14 to hold a bottom portion of the frontsection 16 tight.

A deflection panel 56 is positioned in the enclosed area 12. Thedeflection panel 56 is positioned within the enclosed area 12 such thatthe deflection panel 56 inhibits the ball 20 from bouncing into thefront section 16 from the rear section 14. The deflection panel 56 andthe enclosed area 12 may be constructed from net, tarp, or similarpanels or sheets of material.

In use, the ball 20 may be thrown or struck towards the rear section 14of the enclosed area 12. The ball 20 is collected within the rearsection 14 and delivered through the drain 18 into the chute 26. Thechute 26 delivers the ball to the lofting mechanism 32 which lofts theball 20 adjacent to the enclosed area 12 to be struck back into the rearsection 14. The cycle may be repeated for desired length of timeallowing a person to practice swinging and striking the ball repeatedlywithout having to remove their hands from the bat or other implementbeing used to strike the ball 20.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A batting cage device comprising: an enclosure defining an enclosedarea having a back section and a front section, said back section ofsaid enclosed area being elevated relative to said front section of saidenclosed area; a drain coupled to said rear section of said enclosedarea such that said rear section is configured for receiving anddirecting a ball such that the ball passes through said drain; a chutepositioned adjacent to said enclosed area such that an upper end of saidchute is configured for receiving the ball passing through said drain,said chute being sloped downwardly from said upper end to a lower endwherein the ball moves from said upper end of said chute to said lowerend of said chute; and a lofting mechanism positioned at said lower endof said chute wherein said chute is configured for lofting the ball whenthe ball exits said lower end of said chute wherein the ball is battableinto said rear section of said enclosed area.
 2. The device of claim 1,further comprising said lofting mechanism comprising netting positionedadjacent to said lower end of said chute wherein said chute isconfigured to deliver the ball onto said netting.
 3. The device of claim2, further comprising said netting being angled relative to said chutesuch that said netting is configured for lofting the ball in asubstantially vertical direction adjacent to said enclosed area.
 4. Thedevice of claim 1, further comprising a bottom surface of said rearsection of said enclosed area forming a funnel towards said drain. 5.The device of claim 1, further comprising: a lower extension panelcoupled to and extending forwardly from a bottom front edge of saidenclosed area; and an aperture extending through said lower extensionpanel, said lofting mechanism being configured for lofting the ballthrough said aperture.
 6. The device of claim 5, further comprising anupper extension panel coupled to and extending forwardly from a topfront edge of said enclosed area, said upper extension panel extendingover said lower extension panel.
 7. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising: a frame, said enclosed area and said chute each beingcoupled to and supported by said frame; and a pair of legs coupled tosaid frame, said legs being telescopic wherein a slope of said chute isadjustable by adjustment of a length of said legs.
 8. The device ofclaim 7, further comprising said legs being positioned adjacent to afront of said enclosed area.
 9. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising said front section being downwardly sloped extendingforwardly from said rear section.
 10. The device of claim 1, furthercomprising a deflection panel being positioned in said enclosed area,said deflection panel being positioned within said enclosed area suchthat said deflection panel inhibits the ball from bouncing into saidfront section from said rear section.
 11. A batting cage devicecomprising: an enclosure defining an enclosed area having a back sectionand a front section, said back section of said enclosed area beingelevated relative to said front section of said enclosed area, saidfront section being downwardly sloped extending forwardly from said rearsection; a drain coupled to said rear section of said enclosed area suchthat said rear section is configured for receiving and directing a ballsuch that the ball passes through said drain; a bottom surface of saidrear section of said enclosed area forming a funnel towards said drain;a chute positioned adjacent to said enclosed area such that an upper endof said chute is configured for receiving the ball passing through saiddrain, said chute being sloped downwardly from said upper end to a lowerend wherein the ball moves from said upper end of said chute to saidlower end of said chute; and a lofting mechanism positioned at saidlower end of said chute wherein said chute is configured for lofting theball when the ball exits said lower end of said chute wherein the ballis battable into said rear section of said enclosed area, said loftingmechanism comprising netting positioned adjacent to said lower end ofsaid chute, said netting being wherein said chute is configured todeliver the ball onto said netting, said netting being angled relativeto said chute such that said netting is configured for lofting the ballin a substantially vertical direction adjacent to said enclosed area; alower extension panel coupled to and extending forwardly from a bottomfront edge of said enclosed area; an aperture extending through saidlower extension panel, said lofting mechanism being configured forlofting the ball through said aperture; an upper extension panel coupledto and extending forwardly from a top front edge of said enclosed area,said upper extension panel extending over said lower extension panel; aframe, said enclosed area and said chute each being coupled to andsupported by said frame; a pair of legs coupled to said frame, said legsbeing telescopic wherein a slope of said chute is adjustable byadjustment of a length of said legs, said legs being positioned adjacentto a front of said enclosed area; and a deflection panel beingpositioned in said enclosed area, said deflection panel being positionedwithin said enclosed area such that said deflection panel inhibits theball from bouncing into said front section from said rear section.